Mastering the Short Story: An Eight-Week Writing Workshop
This eight-week workshop is designed for aspiring writers who want to master the art of short story writing.
New on Outschool
What's included
16 live meetings
10 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. The homework is light until the end when they will be expected to write a short story of a maximum of 2500 words. All of the homework will be cumulative in that it will be used in their final short story.Progress Report
I will offer progress reports to those who want them. Otherwise, there generally aren't grades for this class.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner - Intermediate Level
In this 8-week course, students will learn the fundamentals of short story writing, covering key elements such as character development, setting, plot structure, dialogue, point of view, and conflict resolution. Each week, we'll focus on a specific aspect of writing through a combination of lectures, interactive discussions, and practical exercises. Students will engage in hands-on activities, and peer reviews, and receive constructive feedback to refine their stories. By the end of the course, participants will have completed a polished short story ready for submission. The course structure allows for extensive interaction with the instructor and classmates, fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment. By the day after class, I will provide a link to a google folder that will contain all my presentations and notes used in class so students can review them as needed. Any prompts I use in class will also go in this folder as well.
Learning Goals
Identify and describe the key components of a short story, including character, setting, plot, conflict, and theme.Create detailed and relatable characters with clear motivations, backstories, and character arcs.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum16 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
An Introduction to Short Stories
In this first lesson, we will go over a brief introduction to the short story form, including the elements of a short story: character, setting, plot, conflict, and theme. 40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Brainstorms and Character Sketches
In this lesson, we will discuss brainstorming and character sketches to help writers organize their ideas. Their homework will be to develop a one-page story idea. 40 mins online live lesson
1 assignment
Lesson 3:
Creating Memorable Characters
This lesson is all about developing characters. We will discuss meaningful character arcs, flat and round characters, and the development of characters. 40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Backstories and Motivations
We will go into further detail about character development. The homework will be to write a character sketch for their main character. 40 mins online live lesson
1 assignment
Other Details
Parental Guidance
I will be using Khan Academy for this class.
Pre-Requisites
Every student is expected to have a basic knowledge of the writing process. However, we will cover the general structure and formatting of short stories at the beginning of the course.
Language of Instruction
English (Level: A2)
Joined August, 2024
New on Outschool
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Spalding University's Naslunnd-Mann School of Writing. I have been mentored by several top producers in the screenwriting and playwriting industries and I have written many screenplays that have placed in finals in prestigious awards. While my writing career is on hold for family reasons, I wish to share my knowledge and passion with new, young minds. Reviews
Live Group Course
$2
weekly or $10 for 16 classes2x per week, 8 weeks
40 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-17
4-8 learners per class
